Show Notes
Today we look at Jesus' baptism in Matthew 3 and practice replacing lies we have believed with the Truth of who God says we are.
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Episode Transcript
Speaker 1 00:00:05 Welcome to the meditation and worship series with west side church. Over the next few weeks, we will be meditating on scripture and diving into some practices. As we walk through the season of lent. Our hope is that over the course of this Lenten season, this time of meditation and worship can be a breath of fresh air as we journey towards Easter together. So let us start by pausing for a moment and focusing our attention to Jesus. May we be expectant of the movement of the holy spirit in our time together, if you are in a place to do so close your eyes, hold your hands out in front of you. Take a deep breath in and out. And another in and out,
Speaker 1 00:01:04 It has been said that the 40 days of lent are to mirror that Jesus 40 days in the wilderness this week, we are taking a closer look at Jesus' time in the wilderness and what we can learn as we step into our 40 days of emptying ourselves in preparation for the celebration of Jesus' resurrection on Easter today, we are going back a few verses to Jesus' baptism, right before he is led into the wilderness. Matthew chapter three, verses 13 through 16. Then Jesus went from Galilee to the Jordan river to be baptized by John. But John tried to talk him out of it. I am the one who needs to be baptized by you. He said, so why are you coming to me? But Jesus said it should be done for, we must carry out all that God requires. So John agreed to baptize him after his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the spirit of God, descending like a dove and settling on him. And a voice from heaven said, this is my dearly loved son who brings me great joy.
Speaker 1 00:02:31 What a beautiful moment has Jesus is getting baptized. And before he walks into the wilderness, the spirit of God descends on him and his father calls out. This is my dearly loved son who brings me great joy before he has done a single miracle or started his ministry. The father reminds him of his identity of who he is, a son who is beloved. We often feel it is our duty to earn God's love. But if we can successfully get through a hard season or pray enough or fast enough, then we can prove that we did enough to earn his love. But the truth is before you ever do any of those things or utter a word of a prayer, you are already loved by God. He has called you his child, and he loves you with the fierce and everlasting love of a good father. The wilderness seasons are difficult and exhausting and having the truth to hold on to of who we are and whose we are, can sustain us in our most desperate moments. What is God trying to tell you about you today? What truth is he reminding you of right now,
Speaker 1 00:04:17 While we listened to the song today, take some time and ask the spirit of a lie that you have been believing about who you thought God says you are, or what you have believed to be true. Confess it, ask forgiveness for believing that lie and ask God to fill it with truth. Ask him to remind you of who you are and whose you are. Thank you, father for loving us so deeply, right where we are. Thank you for your truth. And the reminder that our identity lies in you alone as a child of God, speak truth to us today, about who we are, open our ears and our hearts to hear you clearly. And may our song be one of praise and Thanksgiving to you. God, our father,
Speaker 2 00:05:24 You say
Speaker 2 00:05:37 You said those who come to you and never thirst again.
Speaker 2 00:06:21 She never runs job. You say
Speaker 2 00:07:01 You said those who come to you again.
Speaker 2 00:07:26 I have to say she
Speaker 2 00:07:40 Bread cheese.
Speaker 0 00:07:57 I,
Speaker 2 00:08:12 We are hungry. We are hungry. We are hungry. We are hungry. We, we . Oh, geez. We are thirsty. Jeez. .
